R&B Queen Erykah Badu unveiled her new album ‘New Amerykah Part 2: The Return of the Ankh’ as the second instalment of the acclaimed leading album from 2008.
Erykah played 11 tracks before answering a brief Q&A and confirmed that this album was the second part of the same body of work released just two years ago describing the first part as: “The left hand part of the brain, the logical side whilst this second part is the emotional side of my brain.”
Part 2 therefore shares a similar production team with credits going to 9th Wonder, Madlib, SA-RA Creative Partners, Taarak and J Dilla with session players such as Thundercat bringing bass, Kirsten Agnesta on harp, James Poyser on keys and Karieem Riggins on drums.
Erykah introduced her Q&A by explaining the use of the phrase ‘Unkh’: “I remember when ‘Baduizm’ came out I was studying Kemit, which was the original name of Egypt and all the hieroglyph stood out for me. This one (holds up a piece of jewellery on her finger) was very important, it stood out and wasn’t just a symbol, it was a word that meant LIFE.”
“When I think about the music and how it went together it made sense and it felt how I felt. I didn’t have any expectations at that time, no one had preconceived notions, I had no expectations of myself. I just did what I did naturally and thus it was a return to life. For me I think we are in a time where we are seriously thinking about ourselves, and as human beings that are evolving and that’s also what it means: the shedding of old things.”
Artwork:
“One of the most important things for me is to be able to look at the artwork after and draw out exactly what it was meant to say. The name of this piece is actualy called out of my mind just in time, which is the titkle of the last piece on the album.
What is the name of the new album about?
“Taking about her artwork: This artwork doesnt belong to me any more so I say ‘she’, and it’s not necessarily about me anymore but she is covered in armour, that’s hardened her as a result of love and relationship,s and politics and money and career, and she really needs to be a feminist due to the position that she’s chosen in life. On her shoulders are all the parts you saw in new Amerykah, from money and pollution, gas and mass graves and television and satalites and indusry and healthcare and hurricane Katrina and oil and bullshit. And you can see her coming out of her own mind because this is where all her anxienty lives.”
‘New Amerykah Part 2: The return of the Ankh’ is released on March 30th.
Tracklisting is as follows:
1) 20 Feet Tall
2) Window Seat
3) Agitation
4) Get Money
5) Don’t Be Long
6) Umm Hmm
7) Love
8) Loving Me
9) Fall in Love
10) Strawberry Incense
11) Out My Mind Just in Time
